U.S. patent application number 12/045195 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-18 for information processing device, program, and recording medium.
Invention is credited to Nahoko YANO.
Application Number | 20080225337 12/045195 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39762363 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080225337 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YANO; Nahoko |
September 18, 2008 |
INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, PROGRAM, AND RECORDING MEDIUM
Abstract
An information processing device includes a storing unit in
which registered medium information is stored, indicating a set of
registered recording media uses, which uses are permitted by the
information processing device. A checking unit checks usability of
a removable recording medium attached to the information processing
device by comparing the registered medium information with
registered device information acquired from the recording medium
attached to the information processing device and indicating a set
of registered information processing devices, each of which permits
use of the recording medium in the registered information
processing device. A usability control unit manages use of the
recording medium in the information processing device according to
a result of the checking.
Inventors: |
YANO; Nahoko; (Kanagawa,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCLELLAND MAIER & NEUSTADT, P.C.
1940 DUKE STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
39762363 |
Appl. No.: |
12/045195 |
Filed: |
March 10, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
358/1.16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 21/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
358/1.16 |
International
Class: |
G06F 15/00 20060101
G06F015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 15, 2007 |
JP |
2007-066760 |
Claims
1. An information processing device which uses a removable
recording medium, comprising: a storing unit in which registered
medium information is stored, indicating a set of registered
recording media, use of which in the information processing device
is permitted; a checking unit for checking usability of a removable
recording medium attached to the information processing device, by
comparing the registered medium information from the storing unit
with registered device information acquired from the recording
medium attached to the information processing device and indicating
a set of registered information processing devices each of which
permits use of the recording medium in the registered information
processing device; and a usability control unit managing use of the
recording medium in the information processing device according to
a result of the checking by the checking unit.
2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein
the checking unit retrieves a device identifier of the information
processing device from the acquired registered device information
and sets the result of the checking to indicate a permission of use
of the recording medium when the device identifier is found.
3. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein
the checking unit retrieves a medium identifier of the recording
medium acquired from the recording medium, from the registered
medium information from the storing unit, and sets the result of
the checking to indicate the permission of use of the recording
medium when the medium identifier is found.
4. The information processing device according to claim 2, wherein
the usability control unit permits reading data from the recording
medium or writing data to the recording medium when the result of
the checking is set to indicate the permission of use of the
recording medium.
5. The information processing device according to claim 2, further
comprising a reading unit reading a predetermined data from the
recording medium when the result of the checking is set to indicate
the permission of use of the recording medium.
6. The information processing device according to claim 1, further
comprising a managing unit adding a medium identifier of the
recording medium to the registered medium information and writing a
device identifier of the information processing device to the
recording medium, so that association process is performed to
associate the recording medium with the information processing
device.
7. The information processing device according to claim 6, wherein
the managing unit is arranged to determine whether the association
process is to be performed, by using at least one of an upper limit
of the number of the registered information processing devices and
an upper limit of the number of the registered recording media.
8. The information processing device according to claim 6, wherein
the managing unit is arranged to delete a medium identifier of the
recording medium from the registered medium information and delete
a device identifier of the information processing device from the
recording medium, so that an association cancelling process is
performed to cancel association of the recording medium from the
information processing device.
9. The information processing device according to claim 6, further
comprising an authority information storing unit in which authority
management information relating to authority of execution of a
process by the managing unit is stored, and an authority managing
unit which determines whether execution of the process by the
managing unit is permitted, according to the authority management
information.
10. A multi-function peripheral which uses a removable recording
medium, comprising: a storing unit in which registered medium
information is stored, indicating a set of registered recording
media uses, which uses are permitted by the multi-function
peripheral; a checking unit checking usability of a removable
recording medium attached to the multi-function peripheral by
comparing the registered medium information from the storing unit
with registered device information acquired from the recording
medium attached to the multi-function peripheral and indicating a
set of registered multi-function peripherals, each of which permits
use of the recording medium in the registered multi-function
peripheral; and a usability control unit managing use of the
recording medium in the multi-function peripheral according to a
result of the checking by the checking unit.
11. An information processing method for an information processing
device which uses a removable recording medium, the method
comprising: storing registered medium information into the
information processing device, indicating a set of registered
recording media uses, which uses are permitted by the information
processing device; checking usability of a removable recording
medium attached to the information processing device by comparing
the registered medium information with registered device
information acquired from the recording medium attached to the
information processing device and indicating a set of registered
information processing devices, each of which permits use of the
recording medium in the registered information processing device;
and managing use of the recording medium in the information
processing device according to a result of the checking.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention generally relates to an information
processing device which uses a removable recording medium, and more
particularly to an information processing device which manages use
of a removable recording medium in the information processing
device.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In recent years, there are provided general-purpose
removable recording media which include a SD (SecureDigital,
registered trademark) memory card, a USB flash memory, etc. The
recording medium is removably attached to an information processing
device, such as a personal computer (PC), and used for reading data
from the recording medium or for writing data generated by the
information processing device to the recording medium.
[0005] Also in recent years, an application program and user data
are stored in a removable recording medium, and the program and the
data are read from the recording medium in an image forming device,
such as a multi-function peripheral. The program is used in the
image forming device to perform addition, updating, and functional
expansion of the program or firmware, and the user data is read and
used by the application program in the image forming device.
[0006] For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.
2006-279935 discloses an information processing device related to
the function expansion using a removable recording medium. In order
to perform management by the license of a removable recording
medium in which actual information containing a program for adding
a predetermined function is stored, this information processing
device is adapted so that the license information recorded on the
recording medium is compared with the license information stored in
the information processing device itself, to determine whether use
of the actual information recorded on the recording medium is
permitted according to a result of the comparison.
[0007] In a conventional method of managing a removable recording
medium, in order to permit use of a removable recording medium for
general purposes, a special management which restricts a range of
use of the recording medium is not performed but any information
processing device is allowed to use the recording medium without
checking identification of the recording medium. The recording
medium is allowed to be attached to any information processing
device without checking identification of the device.
[0008] The conventional method provides the user with convenience
of use of removable recording media and information processing
devices. However, when confidential data are recorded on removable
recording media, the conventional method will allow any person to
make use of the confidential data easily. Accordingly, the
conventional method has a data security problem.
[0009] Moreover, the above-mentioned conventional method is
intended to control the permission of execution of the program
stored in the recording medium according to a result of the
comparison of license information, thereby preventing the
unauthorized re-use of the program for another information
processing device. However, the conventional method does not work
to restrict the range of use of the recording medium itself, and
does not prevent the user from taking out data from the recoding
media. In addition, the management of license information according
to the above-mentioned conventional method has no restriction to
the addition of other license information, and the above-mentioned
conventional method has a data security problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, an improved
information processing device is disclosed in which the
above-described problems are eliminated.
[0011] According to another aspect of the invention an information
processing device is disclosed which is adapted for performing
access control of a removable recording medium depending on a
permission of use of the recording medium given by association
between the information processing device and the recording medium,
and for managing use of the recording medium in the information
processing device with a high level of security.
[0012] In an embodiment of the invention which solves or reduces
one or more of the above-mentioned problems, an information
processing device is disclosed which uses a removable recording
medium, the information processing device comprising: a storing
unit in which registered medium information, indicating a set of
registered recording media use of which in the information
processing device is permitted, is stored; a checking unit for
checking usability of a removable recording medium attached to the
information processing device by comparing the registered medium
information from the storing unit with registered device
information acquired from the recording medium attached to the
information processing device and indicating a set of registered
information processing devices each of which permits use of the
recording medium in the registered information processing device;
and a usability control unit managing use of the recording medium
in the information processing device according to a result of the
checking by the checking unit.
[0013] The above-mentioned information processing device may be
arranged so that the checking unit retrieves a device identifier of
the information processing device from the acquired registered
device information and sets the result of the checking to indicate
the permission of use of the recording medium when the device
identifier is found.
[0014] The above-mentioned information processing device may be
arranged so that the checking unit retrieves a medium identifier of
the recording medium acquired from the recording medium, from the
registered medium information from the storing unit, and sets the
result of the checking to indicate the permission of use of the
recording medium when the medium identifier is found.
[0015] The above-mentioned information processing device may be
arranged so that the usability control unit permits reading data
from the recording medium or writing data to the recording medium
when the result of the checking is set to indicate the permission
of use of the recording medium.
[0016] The above-mentioned information processing device may be
arranged to further comprise a reading unit reading a predetermined
data from the recording medium when the result of the checking is
set to indicate the permission of use of the recording medium.
[0017] The above-mentioned information processing device may be
arranged to further comprise a managing unit adding a medium
identifier of the recording medium to the registered medium
information and writing a device identifier of the information
processing device to the recording medium, so that an association
process is performed to associate the recording medium with the
information processing device.
[0018] The above-mentioned information processing device may be
arranged so that the managing unit is arranged to determine whether
the association process is to be performed, by using at least one
of an upper limit of the number of the registered information
processing devices and an upper limit of the number of the
registered recording media.
[0019] The above-mentioned information processing device may be
arranged so that the managing unit is arranged to delete a medium
identifier of the recording medium from the registered medium
information and delete a device identifier of the information
processing device from the recording medium, so that association
cancelling process is performed to cancel association of the
recording medium from the information processing device.
[0020] The above-mentioned information processing device may be
arranged to further comprise an authority information storing unit
in which authority management information relating to authority of
execution of a process by the managing unit is stored, and an
authority managing unit which determines whether execution of the
process by the managing unit is permitted, according to the
authority management information.
[0021] In an embodiment of the invention which solves or reduces
one or more of the above-mentioned problems, a multi-function
peripheral is disclosed which uses a removable recording medium,
the multi-function peripheral comprising: a storing unit in which
registered medium information is stored indicating a set of
registered recording media, use of which in the multi-function
peripheral is permitted; a checking unit checking usability of a
removable recording medium attached to the multi-function
peripheral, by comparing the registered medium information from the
storing unit with registered device information, acquired from the
recording medium attached to the multi-function peripheral and
indicating a set of registered multi-function peripherals, each of
which permits use of the recording medium in the registered
multi-function peripheral; and a usability control unit managing
use of the recording medium in the multi-function peripheral
according to a result of the checking by the checking unit.
[0022] In an embodiment of the invention which solves or reduces
one or more of the above-mentioned problems, an information
processing method is disclosed for an information processing device
which uses a removable recording medium, the method comprising:
storing registered medium information, indicating a set of
registered recording media, use of which in the information
processing device is permitted, into the information processing
device; checking usability of a removable recording medium attached
to the information processing device, by comparing the registered
medium information with registered device information acquired from
the recording medium attached to the information processing device
and indicating a set of registered information processing devices,
each of which permits use of the recording medium in the registered
information processing device; and managing use of the recording
medium in the information processing device according to a result
of the checking.
[0023] According to the embodiments of the information processing
device of the invention, it is possible to perform access control
of a removable recording medium depending on the permission of use
of the recording medium given by association between the
information processing device and the recording medium, to manage
use of the recording medium in the information processing device
with a high level of security.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] Other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will be apparent from the following detailed description
when reading in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[0025] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware composition
of an image forming device in an embodiment of the invention.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the software composition
of the image forming device of this embodiment.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the data structure of device
side checking information and medium side checking information.
[0028] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a license checking process
which is performed by the image forming device of this
embodiment.
[0029] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an access control which is
performed by the image forming device of this embodiment.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a graphical user
interface which is displayed on an operation panel unit.
[0031] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a license management process
which is performed by the image forming device of this
embodiment.
[0032] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the data structure of a user
authority table.
[0033] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an association process which
is performed by the image forming device of this embodiment.
[0034] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an association cancelling
process which is performed by the image forming device of this
embodiment.
[0035] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a graphical user
interface for setting up the upper limit of the number of devices
which can be registered in a recording medium and the upper limit
of the number of recording media which can be registered in the
image forming device of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0036] A description will now be given of embodiments of the
invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0037] As a typical example of an information processing device in
an embodiment of the invention, an image forming device 10 which
has multiple image-forming functions including a copier function, a
facsimile function, a scanner function, a printer function, etc.
will be described in the following. The image forming device 10 may
be called a multi-function peripheral.
[0038] FIG. 1 shows the hardware composition of the image forming
device 10 in an embodiment of the invention. The image forming
device 10 of this embodiment is arranged to include a CPU (central
processing unit) 20, an I/O controller 22 connected to the CPU 20
via a bus 18, a nonvolatile memory (NV-RAM) 24, an operation panel
unit 26, and an SD card slot 28 (which is a recording medium slot
which may be referred to as the slot).
[0039] The NV-RAM 24 stores the control program executed by the
image forming device 10, the system information of the image
forming device 10, etc. Moreover, the NV-RAM 24 stores registered
medium information containing a device identifier of this image
forming device 10 and medium identifiers of a set of recording
media each, of which is allowed to be used in this image forming
device 10, setting information containing an upper limit of the
number of registered recording media which are allowed to be used
therein, and authority management information, which will be
mentioned later.
[0040] The operation panel unit 26 is connected to the I/O
controller 22 and arranged to include a display and an input device
which are not illustrated. The operation panel unit 26 receives
various instructions from the operator and outputs an operational
screen to the display, which provides a user interface.
[0041] The slot 28 is connected to the I/O controller 22 and
arranged to enable attachment and detachment of an SD card 30
(which is a removable recording medium which may be referred to as
the recording medium 30) to and from the image forming device 10.
The slot 28 performs reading and writing of data from and to the
recording medium 30. For example, in the recording medium 30 which
is attached to the slot 28, the control program of the image
forming device 10, such as firmware, and the user data used in the
image forming device 10, such as address book, image data, text
data, etc. may be stored.
[0042] The I/O controller 22 performs the input/output control of
the NV-RAM 24 and the recording medium 30, and the input/output
control of the operation panel unit 26.
[0043] Moreover, the image forming device 10 of this embodiment is
arranged to include the hardware for performing the multi-function
peripheral function, such as FCU (facsimile control unit) and
engine unit, the network I/F, such as network interface card (NIC),
the USB I/F for connecting the device 10 with an external PC, etc.,
and the interfaces conforming to the standard interfaces, such as
IEEE 1394 I/F and Centronics I/F, which are not illustrated.
[0044] FIG. 2 shows the software composition of the image forming
device of this embodiment.
[0045] The image forming device 10 is arranged to include a license
checking unit 36, a recording medium access control unit 42, a
license managing unit 44, and an application 46. The recording
medium 30, which is used with the image forming device 10 of this
embodiment, stores a medium identifier 64 of the recording medium
30, and registered device information 66 indicating a set of
registered information processing devices, each of which permits
use of the recording medium 30 in the registered information
processing device when the recording medium 30 is attached thereto.
These items of information are used as management data at the time
of license checking of the recording medium 30. In the recording
medium 30, the actual data 32 (text, image, program, firmware,
address book, etc.) which is used by the image forming device 10
are stored as well.
[0046] For the sake of simplicity of description, the medium
identifier 64 and the registered device information 66 which are
stored in the recording medium 30 will be collectively referred to
as medium side checking information 34.
[0047] The recording medium access control unit 42 performs access
control of the recording medium 30, and manages the permission of
access to the medium side checking information 34 and the
permission of access to the storage area in which the actual data
32 are stored.
[0048] The recording medium access control unit 42 is configured to
receive an interrupt signal output from the slot 28 when the
recording medium 30 is attached to the slot 28 or detached from the
slot 28, and is configured to detect attachment or detachment of
the recording medium 30 in response to the interrupt signal.
[0049] The license checking unit 36 is arranged to include a
checking unit 40 and a usability control unit 38. A device
identifier 60 of the image forming device 10 and registered medium
information 62 containing medium identifiers of a set of registered
recording media use of which in the image forming device 10 is
permitted are stored in the NV-RAM 24 provided in the image forming
device 10.
[0050] For the sake of simplicity of description, the device
identifier 60 and the registered medium information 62, which are
stored in the image forming device 10, will be collectively
referred to as device side checking information 50.
[0051] The checking unit 40 acquires the medium side checking
information 34 from the recording medium 30, and compares the
acquired medium side checking information 34 with the
above-mentioned device side checking information 50. The checking
unit 40 determines whether the recording medium 30 attached to the
image forming device 10 is a recording medium, use of which in the
image forming device 10 is permitted, and sets the result of the
checking to a value indicating the "permission of use" or a value
indicating the "non-permission of use".
[0052] In the following, for the sake of simplicity of description,
this process performed by the checking unit 40 in the present
embodiment will be called "license checking". What is meant by the
recording medium 30 having a license is that use of the recording
medium 30 in the image forming device 10 is permitted. What is
meant by the recording medium 30 having no license is that use of
the recording medium 30 in the image forming device 10 is not
permitted.
[0053] When the result of the checking is set to the value
indicating the "permission of use" by the checking unit 40, the
usability control unit 38 verifies the condition of partition or a
file system in the recording medium 30 if needed, and shifts the
recording medium 30 to an enable condition as a file system, and
sends a notification about the enable condition of the recording
medium 30 to the recording medium access control unit 42.
[0054] On the other hand, when the result of checking is set to the
value indicating the "non-permission of use", the usability control
unit 38 shifts the recording medium 30 to a disable condition in
which the recording medium 30 cannot be used, and sends a
notification about the disable condition of the recording medium 30
to the recording medium access control unit 42.
[0055] In response to this notification, the recording medium
access control unit 42 controls the permission of access to the
storage area of the recording medium 30 in which the actual data 32
are stored (which will be referred to as actual storage area).
[0056] In the present embodiment, use of the recording medium means
accessing the actual storage area in the recording medium, that is,
performing writing data to or reading data from the recording
medium. For example, according to UNIX.RTM. system, control of the
permission of use of the recording medium 30 may be performed by a
"mount" process to shift the recording medium 30 from a disable
condition to an enable condition or by an "unmount" process to
shift the recording medium 30 from an enable condition to a disable
condition.
[0057] The license managing unit 44 performs any of association
process to associate the image forming device 10 and the recording
medium 30, association cancelling process to cancel the
association, and setting process to set the upper limit of the
number of devices or the upper limit of the number of media which
can be registered by association, etc., and performs license
management of the recording medium 30 with respect to the image
forming device 10.
[0058] In the present embodiment, a license is given to the
recording medium 30 through the association process, and use of the
recording medium 30 in the image forming device 10 is
permitted.
[0059] The license given to the recording medium 30 is cancelled
through the association cancelling process, and use of the
recording medium 30 in the image forming device 10 is
prohibited.
[0060] The application 46 is a function unit which reads the actual
data 32 from the recording medium 30, or writes data held or
generated by the image forming device 10 to the recording medium 30
as the actual data 32. The application 46 issues an access request
to the recording medium 30.
[0061] The application 46 may be performed by any of a file
manager, an image-data or text-data viewer, a print application to
print a stored image data, a mailer using an address book, a fax
application, etc.
[0062] In an alternative embodiment, the application 46 may be
replaced by a firmware stored in the recording medium 30 or a
program starting unit to start execution of a program.
[0063] The access requests generated from the license checking unit
36 and the license managing unit 44 which use the medium side
checking information 34, are indicated by the dotted lines in FIG.
2.
[0064] The recording medium access control unit 42 issues a
predetermined control instruction, and controls reading of the
medium identifier 64 and the registered device information 66 from
the recording medium 30, and writing of data to the recording
medium 30. The access requests generated from the application 46
using the actual data 32 are indicated by the dashed lines in FIG.
2. With respect to the access request (the dashed line) to the
actual data 32, the recording medium access control unit 42
receives a notification from the usability control unit 38, and
controls the permission of access according to the result of the
checking by the checking unit 40.
[0065] The image forming device 10 of this embodiment is arranged
to further include a user managing unit 48. The user managing unit
48 authenticates the user who uses the image forming device 10, and
determines the authority of the user to perform the above-mentioned
license management process.
[0066] In the NV-RAM 24, a user authority table 200 which
associates user identifiers and user authority levels is stored.
The user managing unit 48 retrieves the user authority table 200,
when a command of execution of the license management process is
input by the user on the operation panel unit 26, and determines
whether the user has the authority to perform the process. The user
managing unit 48 controls the permission of execution of the
process.
[0067] In the image forming device 10 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2,
the control program is read from the memory device, such as ROM,
HDD (which are not illustrated), the NV-RAM 24, and the recording
medium 30, and developed to the memory area, such as RAM which is
not illustrated and provides the work area of the CPU 20. Under the
management control of the OS (operating system), the
above-mentioned software unit and the below-mentioned process are
performed through the development of the control program.
[0068] In addition, the UNIX.RTM. operating system (OS) is adopted
as the OS of the image forming device 10. The WINDOWS.RTM., OS and
any other OS may also be used.
[0069] FIG. 3 shows the data structure of the medium side checking
information which is stored in each of the recording media and the
device side checking information, which is stored in the image
forming device of this embodiment.
[0070] As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming device 10a and the
image forming device 10b hold device side checking information 50a
and device side checking information 50b, respectively. In the
device side checking information 50a and 50b, device identifiers
(device ID) 60a and 60b which identify the respective image forming
devices 10a and 10b, and registered medium information 62a and 62b,
each of which includes medium identifiers of a set of registered
recording media associated with the image forming devices 10 and
10b are included, respectively.
[0071] As shown in FIG. 3, the recording media 30a-30c hold medium
side checking information 34a-34c, respectively. In the medium side
checking information 34a-34c, medium identifiers (medium ID)
64a-64c which identify the respective recording media 30a-30c, and
registered device information 66a-66c, each of which includes
device identifiers of a set of registered information processing
devices associated with the recording media 30a-30c are included,
respectively.
[0072] For another example, the image forming device 10a in the
embodiment of FIG. 3 holds the device ID 60a "MFT0001" which
identifies the image forming device 10a, and the registered medium
information 62a which includes a set of medium ID "SD0A", "SD0B",
and "SD0C" of the registered recording media associated with the
image forming device 10a.
[0073] For example, the recording medium 30a in the embodiment of
FIG. 3 holds the medium ID 34a "SD0A" which identifies the
recording medium 30a, and the registered device information 66a
which includes the device ID "MFT0001" and "MFT0005" of the
registered information processing devices associated with the
recording medium 30a.
[0074] That is, the image forming device 10a holds the data entry
of the medium ID of the recording medium 30a in the registered
medium information 62a, the recording medium 30a holds the data
entry of the device ID of the image forming device 10a in the
registered device information 66a, the device identifier of the
image forming device 10a and the medium identifier of the recording
medium 30a are shared and associated with each other.
[0075] As shown in FIG. 3, the data entry of null or more
corresponding identifiers is held in the registered medium
information 62 and the registered device information 66. The number
of the identifiers contained in each of the registered medium
information 62 and the registered device information 66 is below a
predetermined upper limit.
[0076] The checking unit 40 of this embodiment reads the medium ID
64 and the registered device information 66 from the recording
medium 30 attached to the image forming device 10, and acquires the
medium side checking information 34 therefrom. By using the device
ID 60 of the image forming device 10 as a search key, the checking
unit 40 retrieves a corresponding device ID from the registered
device information 66. When the device ID 60 is found, the checking
unit 40 sets the result of the checking to indicate an affirmative
judgment.
[0077] By using the medium ID 64 of the recording medium 30 as a
search key, the checking unit 40 retrieves a corresponding medium
ID from the registered medium information 62. When the medium ID 64
is found, the checking unit 40 sets the result of the checking to
indicate an affirmative judgment.
[0078] In the license checking of the present embodiment, it is
detected whether at least one of the device ID and the medium ID is
shared by the image forming device 10 and the recording medium 30,
and, when it is detected that either is shared, it is determined
that the use of the recording medium 30 in the image forming device
10 is permitted. However, the present invention is not limited to
the above-described embodiment.
[0079] Alternatively, according to the level of security required,
the license checking may be carried out by detecting that both the
device identifier (device ID) and the medium identifier (medium ID)
are shared. Alternatively, implementation of the license checking
may be performed to suit a specific application, so that the
recording medium 30 holds only the medium ID 64 and the checking
unit 40 performs the license checking using only the registered
medium information 62.
[0080] Next, a description will be given of a license checking
process. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a license checking
process which is performed by the image forming device of this
embodiment.
[0081] The license checking process of FIG. 4 is started at step
S100 when the checking unit 40 receives an inquiry of license
checking. For example, the inquiry of license checking is forwarded
by the recording medium access control unit 42 when attachment of
the recording medium 30 is detected or when occurrence of an access
request is detected.
[0082] At step S101, the checking unit 40 acquires the medium side
checking information 34 from the recording medium 30 and stores it
in a predetermined storage area, such as a memory area.
[0083] At step S102, the checking unit 40 acquires the device side
checking information 50 stored in the NV-RAM 24 and stores it in a
predetermined storage area, such as a memory area.
[0084] At step S103, the checking unit 40 compares the acquired
medium side checking information 34 and the acquired device side
checking information 50, and determines whether at least one of the
device ID and the medium ID is shared by the image forming device
10 and the recording medium 30. In this manner, the checking unit
40 performs the license checking of the recording medium 30
attached to the image forming device 10.
[0085] When it is determined at step S103 that at least one of the
device ID and the medium ID is shared and the recording medium 30
has a license (YES), the process is shifted to step S104. At step
S104, the checking unit 40 sets the result of the checking to
indicate the permission of use of the recording medium 30, and
transmits the result of the checking as a response to the inquiry.
The process is terminated at step S106.
[0086] On the other hand, when it is determined at step S103 that
none of the device ID and the medium ID is shared and the recording
medium 30 has no license (NO), the process is shifted to step S105.
At step S105, the checking unit 40 sets the result of the checking
to indicate non-permission of use of the recording medium 30, and
transmits the result of the checking as a response to the inquiry.
In this case, the process is terminated at step S106.
[0087] Next, the control of the permission of use of the recording
medium 30 and the access control according to the result of the
checking will be explained.
[0088] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the access control which is
performed by the image forming device of this embodiment.
[0089] The access control shown in FIG. 5 is performed in response
to a request for accessing the actual storage area of the recording
medium 30. The access control process of FIG. 5 is started at step
S200 when an access request for accessing the actual data 32 of the
recording medium 30 is received from the application 46 or other
applications.
[0090] At step S201, the recording medium access control unit 42
transmits an inquiry of license checking to the license checking
unit 36, and license checking of the recording medium 30 is
performed by the checking unit 40.
[0091] At step S202, the usability control unit 38 determines
whether the result of the checking from the checking unit 40 (or
the response to the inquiry) is set to indicate the permission of
use of the recording medium 30. When it is determined at step S202
that the result of the checking is set to indicate the permission
of use of the recording medium 30 (YES), the process is shifted to
step S203.
[0092] At step S203, the usability control unit 38 performs
verification of partitions or a file system in the recording medium
30 if needed, sets the recording medium 30 in a usable condition,
and notifies the recording medium access control unit 42 that the
recording medium 30 is set in a usable condition.
[0093] At step S204, the recording medium access control unit 42
receives the notification from the usability control unit 38,
permits access to the actual data 32 in the recording medium 30,
and performs accessing of the requested data in the recording
medium 30. The recording medium access control unit 42 transmits
the corresponding notification to the application 46 as a response
to the access request. The process is terminated at step S205.
[0094] On the other hand, when it is determined at step S202 that
the result of the checking is set to indicate the non-permission of
use of the recording medium 30 (NO), the process is shifted to step
S206. At step S206, the usability control unit 38 sets the
recording medium 30 in a non-usable condition, and notifies the
recording medium access control unit 42 that the recording medium
30 is set in a non-usable condition.
[0095] At step S207, the recording medium access control unit 42
receives the notification from the usability control unit 38,
rejects access to the actual data 32 in the recording medium 30,
and notifies the application 46 that the access request is
rejected. The recording medium access control unit 42 causes the
operation panel unit 26 to display a screen indicating that the
requested data cannot be accessed, which is notified to the user.
The process is terminated at step S205.
[0096] FIG. 6 shows an example of a graphical user interface (GUI)
which is displayed on the operation panel unit 26 at step S207 in
the access control process of FIG. 5, when access to the actual
data of the recording medium 30 is rejected.
[0097] The GUI 300 shown in FIG. 6 contains a message indicating
that an SD card for which the access request for accessing the
actual data therein is transmitted cannot be used due to a license
error, and an OK button 302 for confirming the message.
[0098] As mentioned above, it is possible for the present
embodiment to suppress use of a recording medium which is not yet
associated with the information processing device, by means of the
composition which controls the permission of use of the recording
medium and controls access to the actual data in the recording
medium according to the result of license checking.
[0099] In a case of a recording medium 30 which is properly
associated with the information processing device, the application
46 is permitted to access the actual storage area of the recording
medium 30. The application 46 can read out the actual data 32 from
the recording medium 30 to make use of it, and can write the data
created by the application 46 to the recording medium 30.
[0100] When the actual data 32 stored in the recording medium 30 is
text data (TXT, DOC, RTF, etc.), image data (JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF,
etc.), or print formal data (PS, EPS, PDF, etc.), any of the
following operations may be performed by the image forming device
10: (1) displaying a thumbnail, a filename or text information on
the display of the operation panel unit 26; (2) performing the
printing of the read data by using the print application, or (3)
performing FAX transmission by using the facsimile application.
[0101] When the actual data 32 stored in the recording medium 30 is
user data, such as an address book, the image forming device 10 may
transmit the data which is stored in a storage device, such as a
HDD (which is not illustrated), by using the contents of the
address book via FAX transmission or via a network.
[0102] When the actual data 32 stored in the recording medium 30 is
an application program, the image forming device 10 may perform
function expansion of the image forming device 10 with the
application program by initiating a predetermined firmware program,
and may start the application program, such as a dictionary or a
game. The present invention is not limited to these applications
and it is applicable to the composition in conformity with a
specific application.
[0103] The license checking and the control of the permission of
use of the recording medium by the license checking unit 36 may be
performed every time an access request occurs, from a viewpoint of
security. However, the present invention is not limited to the
above-mentioned embodiment. Alternatively, the recording medium
access control unit 42 may transmit an inquiry to the license
checking unit 36 upon receipt of an interrupt signal from the slot
28 at the time of attaching the recording medium 30 thereto, and
the license checking unit 36 may control the permission of use of
the recording medium 30. Subsequently, the recording medium access
control unit 42 receives the notification from the license checking
unit 36, and holds the status of the permission on the memory area
as the status value, so that the status value is held and the
permission of access is determined by making reference to the
status value, until removal of the recording medium 30 is detected,
the association is cancelled, or the recording medium 30 is
unmounted by the timeout of a predetermined period of time.
[0104] When attachment of the recording medium 30 is detected and
control of use permission is started, the recording medium 30 is
set in a usable condition, and simultaneously it may notify the
data utilizing unit, such as the application 46 or a program
starting unit. For example, a file system stored in the recording
medium 30, such as a general purpose ROM file system in "gz"
compression format in UNIX.RTM., may be mounted further.
Furthermore, the data stored in the recording medium 30 may be
searched so that the actual data 32 is automatically read out from
the recording medium 30.
[0105] Moreover, the image forming device 10 of this embodiment may
also perform license management for every program data stored in
the recording medium 30, and may perform electronic authentication
to the actual data 32 in the recording medium 30.
[0106] Alternatively, the usability control unit 38 in another
embodiment of the invention may be arranged to set the recording
medium 30 in a read-only usable condition, so that the recording
medium 30 is usable only for reading data from the recording medium
30. Also, information of an optional operation may be included in
the device side checking information 50 or the medium side checking
information 34, so that control the permission of use of the
recording medium 30 can be performed in a fine-grained manner.
[0107] Next, a description will be given of license management
process which is performed by the image forming device 10 of this
embodiment. In this embodiment, a user authority is checked for the
license management process, including the association process, the
association cancelling process, and the setting change process with
respect to an upper limit of the number of information processing
devices which can be registered to the recording medium, and an
upper limit of the number of recording media which can be
registered to the image forming device, and the permission of the
execution of the license management process is determined.
[0108] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a license management process
which is performed by the image forming device of this
embodiment.
[0109] For example, the license management processing of FIG. 7 is
started at step S300 when a request for execution of the license
management process input by a user on the operation panel unit 26
is received.
[0110] At step S301, the user managing unit 48 performs user
authentication. For example, in this user authentication, the
prompt screen of a user identifier and a password is displayed on
the operation panel unit 26, and it is determined whether the user
is an authorized user, based on the user identifier and the
password which are entered by the user.
[0111] To the authenticated user, at step S302, a user authority
over the requested process is checked by making reference to the
user authority table 200. The user authority table 200 will be
explained in more detail below.
[0112] At step S303, it is determined whether the user has the
execution authority over the requested process requested. When it
is determined that the user has the authority (YES), the process is
shifted to step S304.
[0113] At step S304, the user managing unit 48 sends the
notification to the license managing unit 44 and causes the license
managing unit 44 to perform the requested license management
process. At step S305, the process is terminated.
[0114] On the other hand, when it is determined at step S303 that
the user has no execution authority over the requested process
(NO), the process is shifted to step S306. At step S306, the user
is notified through the operation panel unit 26 that the user has
no authority to perform the requested process, and the process is
terminated at step S305.
[0115] As mentioned above, the user authority over the process is
checked (S302) prior to causing the license management process to
be performed (S304), and the control (S306) rejects the process
execution by the user who has no authority. Accordingly, it is
possible to reduce a possibility that an unauthorized user perform
the association process freely.
[0116] The user authentication of step S301 may be performed upon
occurrence of every license management process request in order to
raise security. Alternatively, the process of step S301 may be
omitted by performing user authentication beforehand.
[0117] As a method for performing the above-mentioned user
authentication, any kind of user authentication method, such as
BASIC authentication or DIGEST authentication, may be used. In the
composition of the system containing a network interface card
(NIC), etc., the authentication method through a network, such as
Windows.RTM. authentication through a domain controller of
Windows.RTM. which is connected via the network, and LDAP
(Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) authentication through an
LDAP server which is connected via the network, may be used.
[0118] Instead of the user identifier and password input by the
user, a predetermined authentication device may be used. For
example, biometric authentication (fingerprint authentication, vein
authentication, etc.) or IC card authentication may be used
instead.
[0119] FIG. 8 shows the data structure of the user authority table
referred to at the step S302 in the license management process of
FIG. 7.
[0120] In the user authority table 200 of FIG. 8, the user
identifiers, and the execution authority of each of association
process, association cancelling process and the upper limit
changing process, are associated with each other. The user
authority table 200 of FIG. 8 is arranged to include a
user-identifier field 202 containing the data entry of the user
identifiers, and a set of authority fields 204 containing the data
entry of the authority corresponding to the user identifiers.
[0121] The set of authority fields 204 is arranged to include three
fields 206, 208 and 210 which contain the respective data entries
of the execution authority of the three license management
processes of "the association process", "the association cancelling
process", and "the upper limit changing process".
[0122] As shown in FIG. 8, as for the user whose user identifier is
"administrator1", the execution authority for all the license
management processes is assigned. On the other hand, as for the
user whose user identifier is "user1", no execution authority for
any of the license management processes is assigned.
[0123] In the above embodiment, the execution authority of license
management process is set up for every user identifier. However,
the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.
Alternatively, in another embodiment, the execution authority of
the license management process is set up comprehensively for a role
or title associated with the user identifiers.
[0124] In another embodiment, a password may be set up beforehand
either collectively or individually for each license management
process, and the authority of the user may be determined by the
input of that password without performing user authentication.
[0125] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the association process which
is performed by the image forming device of this embodiment.
[0126] The association process of FIG. 9 is started when a command
to execute the association process from the user is received and
the association process is called at the step S304 in the process
of FIG. 7.
[0127] Upon start of the association process of FIG. 9, at step
S401, the license managing unit 44 transmits an inquiry of license
checking to the checking unit 40.
[0128] The license managing unit 44 then receives a response from
the checking unit 40. At step S402, the license managing unit 44
determines whether the received response to the license checking
inquiry indicates, as the result of the checking, the permission of
use of the recording medium in the image forming device 10. When
the result of the determination at step S402 is affirmative (YES),
there is no necessity of adding a license, and the process is
shifted to step S409, at which step the association process is
terminated.
[0129] On the other hand, when the result of the determination at
step S402 is negative (NO), the process is shifted to step S403. At
step S403, the license managing unit 44 acquires the device side
checking information 50 and the medium side checking information
34. Acquisition of these items of information at this step can be
performed by reading them from the recording medium 30 and the
NV-RAM 24 again, or by acquiring or receiving the previously
acquired device side checking information 50 and medium side
checking information 34 from the checking unit 40 through the
inter-process communication.
[0130] At step S404, the license managing unit 44 determines
whether the number of device identifiers which is currently entered
into the registered device information 66 in the medium side
checking information 34 exceeds the upper limit of the number of
devices that can be registered in the recording medium 30, which
upper limit is held in the NV-RAM 24.
[0131] When the result of the determination at step S404 is
affirmative (YES), the process is shifted to step S411. At step
S411, the license managing unit 44 reports to the user that since
the upper limit of the number of devices that can be registered is
exceeded, association cannot be performed. Then, the association
process is terminated at step S409.
[0132] On the other hand, when the result of the determination at
step S404 is negative (NO), the process is shifted to step S405. At
step S405, the license managing unit 44 determines whether the
number of medium identifiers which is currently entered into the
registered medium information 62 in the device side checking
information 50 exceeds the upper limit of the number of recording
media that can be registered in the image forming device 10, which
upper limit is held in the NV-RAM 24.
[0133] When the result of the determination at step S405 is
affirmative (YES), the process is shifted to the above-mentioned
step S411. Similarly, the license managing unit 44 reports at step
S411 to the user that since the upper limit of the number of
recording media that can be registered is exceeded, association
cannot be performed. Then, the association process is terminated at
step S409.
[0134] On the other hand, when the result of the determination at
step S405 is negative (NO), the process is shifted to step S406. At
step S406, the license managing unit 44 determines whether the
recording medium 30 has a medium ID by making reference to the
medium side checking information 34.
[0135] When the result of the determination at step S406 is
negative (NO), the process is shifted to step S410. At step S410, a
new medium ID is generated using a predetermined random-number
function or the like, and the new medium ID is written to the
recording medium 30. Then, the process is shifted to step S407.
[0136] When the result of the determination at step S406 is
affirmative (YES), the process is shifted to step S407. At step
S407, the license managing unit 44 performs data entry of the
corresponding medium ID of the recording medium 30 to the
registered medium information 62, updates the data, and stores the
updated registered medium information 62 in the NV-RAM 24.
[0137] At step S408, the license managing unit 44 performs data
entry of the corresponding device ID of the image forming device 10
to the registered device information 66, updates the data, and
writes the updated registered device information 66 to the
recording medium 30. Then, the association process is terminated at
step S409.
[0138] As mentioned above, the medium ID is shared and associated
between the recording medium 30 and the image forming device 10 by
carrying out data entry of the medium ID of the recording medium 30
to the registered medium information 62. At the same time, the
device ID is shared and associated between the image forming device
10 and the recording medium 30 by carrying out data entry of the
device ID of the image forming device 10 to the registered device
information 66 and writing it to the recording medium 30.
[0139] Through the determination at the step S404 as to whether the
upper limit of the number of devices which can be registered in the
recording medium 30 is exceeded, and through the determination at
the step S405 as to whether the upper limit of the number of media
which can be registered in the image forming device 10 is exceeded,
it is possible to prevent the association process from being
indefinitely performed.
[0140] Through the process at the steps S406 and S410, even when
the recording medium 30 has no specific medium ID, a new medium ID
is generated. By this configuration, the association process can be
carried out even if a specific medium ID is not given beforehand to
the recording medium by the vendor or the like.
[0141] Alternatively, the process of generating a new medium ID at
the steps S406 and S410 may be omitted when the license checking
using the medium ID is not performed.
[0142] As mentioned above, the association process of FIG. 9 is
started when the user command through the operation panel unit 26
is received. The invention is not limited to this embodiment.
Alternatively, the association process of FIG. 9 may be arranged as
follows. Namely, when it is determined as a result of license
checking that the user has no license, the checking of
predetermined user authority is performed, and the association
process of FIG. 9 is automatically started at the end of the
checking of predetermined user authority. In this case, it is
possible to increase the convenience for the user.
[0143] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the upper limit of the
number of devices which can be registered in the recording medium
is stored in the NV-RAM 24 of the image forming device 10. The
invention is not limited to this embodiment. In another embodiment,
the upper limit of the number of devices which can be registered in
the recording medium may be stored in the recording medium 30, and
it may be acquired from the recording medium 30 in the process of
step S403. By this embodiment, it is possible to share the common
upper limit among two or more information processing devices.
[0144] Next, a description will be given of an association
cancelling process. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the association
cancelling process which is performed by the image forming device
of this embodiment.
[0145] The association cancelling process of FIG. 10 is started at
step S500 when a command to execute the association cancelling
process is received from the user and the association cancelling
process is called at the step S304 in the process of FIG. 7.
[0146] Upon start of the process of FIG. 10, the license managing
unit 44 at step S501 transmits an inquiry of license checking to
the checking unit 40.
[0147] After the response is received from the checking unit 40,
the license managing unit 44 at step S502 determines whether the
received response to the inquiry of license checking indicates the
permission of use.
[0148] When the result of the determination at step S502 is
negative (NO), association of the image forming device 10 and the
recording medium 30 is not yet performed and the process is shifted
to step S507. At step S507, the license managing unit 44 causes the
operation panel unit 26 to display on the display screen a message
notifying to the user that there is no need to perform the
association cancelling processing, and the process is terminated at
step S506.
[0149] On the other hand, when the result of the determination at
step S502 is affirmative (YES), the received response in this case
indicates the permission of use, and the process is shifted to step
S503.
[0150] At step S503, the license managing unit 44 acquires the
device side checking information 50 and the medium side checking
information 34.
[0151] At step S504, the license managing unit 44 deletes the entry
of the medium ID of the recording medium 30 from the registered
medium information 62 of the device side checking information 50,
and stores the updated registered medium information 62 into the
NV-RAM 24.
[0152] At step S505, the license managing unit 44 deletes the entry
of the device ID of the image forming device 10 from the registered
device information 66 of the medium side checking information 34,
and writes the updated registered device information 66 to the
recording medium 30. Then the association cancelling process is
terminated at step S506.
[0153] As mentioned above, sharing of the medium ID between the
image forming device 10 and the recording medium 30 is lost by
deleting the entry of the medium ID of the recording medium 30 from
the data of the registered medium information 62 of the device side
checking information 50. At the same time, by deleting the entry of
the device ID of the image forming device 10 from the data of the
registered device information 66 of the medium side checking
information 34 and writing the updated data to the recording medium
30, sharing of the device ID between the recording medium 30 and
the image forming device 10 is lost. Thereby, the association is
cancelled.
[0154] The number of remaining devices and the number of remaining
recording media which are associated with the image forming device
10 and the recording medium 30 are increased by performing the
association cancelling process of FIG. 10, and by using the same
together with the association processing of FIG. 9 in which the
determination concerning the upper limit of the number of the
registration items is performed, it is possible to carry out the
license assignment effectively and prevent the license assignment
from being performed indefinitely. Moreover, it is possible to make
effective use of the memory capacity of the recording medium 30 and
the NV-RAM 24.
[0155] FIG. 11 shows an example of a graphical user interface (GUI)
displayed on the display screen of the operation panel unit 26,
which is arranged for enabling the user to set up the upper limit
of the number of devices which can be registered in the recording
medium 10, and the upper limit and recording medium of the number
of media which can be registered in the image forming device 10.
The upper limits being set up are used in the association process
of FIG. 9.
[0156] For the sake of convenience of illustration, the case where
the operation panel unit 26 is a touch panel will be explained as a
typical example.
[0157] In the GUI 310 of FIG. 11, the screen of setting of the
upper limit of license registration number of SD cards is arranged.
Moreover, the GUI 310 is arranged to include a pull-down menu 312a
and a button 314a from which a value of the upper limit of the
number of recording media which can be registered in the image
forming device 10 is input by the user, and a pull-down menu 312b
and a button 314b from which a value of the upper limit of the
number of devices which can be registered in the recording medium
30 is input by the user.
[0158] Moreover, the GUI 310 is arranged to include an OK button
318 from which the command to validate the setup values is input by
the user, and a CANCEL button 316 from which the command to cancel
the setup values is input by the user.
[0159] Data entry of a set of candidate values of the upper limit
of the number of recording media is contained in the pull-down menu
312a, and when the user presses the button 314a, the value of the
pull-down menu 312a can be changed to another candidate value. Data
entry of a set of candidate values of the upper limit of the number
of devices is contained in the pull-down menu 312b, and when the
user presses the button 314b, the value of the pull-down menu 312b
can be changed to another candidate value.
[0160] By operating the pull-down menus 312a, 312b and the buttons
314a, 314b, the user selects the upper limit value of the
corresponding license registration number and presses the OK 318.
Then, the selected value of the upper limit of the corresponding
number is set up and written to the NV-RAM 24. Thereby, management
and setting of the upper limit of the license registration number
is carried out for the image forming device 10 and the recording
medium 30, which allows flexible license management.
[0161] In the above-mentioned embodiment of the invention,
depending on the association between an information processing
device and a removable recording medium, the permission of use is
given, and performing access control to the removable recording
medium is enabled by the permission of use. It is possible to
provide an information processing device which is able to perform
control use of a removable recording medium with good security and
flexibility.
[0162] Moreover, in the above-mentioned embodiment of the
invention, the permission of use is given only to a recording
medium for which the association is already performed, and license
checking of the recording medium is performed when it is attached.
It is possible to prevent the license assignment from being
performed indefinitely by setting up the upper limit of the
registration device number and the registration medium number for
the recording medium and the information processing device.
[0163] In the above-mentioned embodiment, a new medium ID is
generated for a recording medium having no specific medium ID,
which enables the recording medium having no specific medium ID to
be also used. In the above-mentioned embodiment, the function to
carry out the association cancelling process is provided, which
enables the user to make effective use of the number of recording
media to the upper limit, and make effective use of the memory
capacity of a recording medium or a memory unit with the
information processing device.
[0164] In the above-mentioned embodiment, a serial number, a
manufacture serial number, an identification number, etc. which are
given to each information processing device by the vendor may be
used as the device ID (identifier), and as long as the information
processing device can be identified suitably, any kind of device ID
may be used. Similarly, as long as the recording medium can be
identified suitably, any of a serial number, a manufacture serial
number, an identification number, etc. which are given to each
recording medium by the vendor may be used as the medium ID
(identifier).
[0165] In the above-mentioned embodiment, an image forming device,
such as a multi-function peripheral, is arranged as the information
processing device of the invention. Alternatively, in accordance
with specific applications, any of the following devices may be
arranged as the information processing device of the invention if
the information processing device is capable of using a removable
recording medium to read or write the information stored therein:
personal computers, servers, copiers, printers, image readers,
cellular phones, PDAs, portable electronic game devices, scanners,
audio/video input-output devices, imaging devices, digital cameras,
digital camcorders, television sets, HDD recorders, audio
terminals, in-vehicle electronic devices, digital-appliance
apparatus, car navigation systems, etc.
[0166] Regarding the removable recording medium used in the
information processing device of the invention, it is not limited
to SD memory card, but it may be any of removable recording media,
such as Compact Flash.RTM. memory card, Smart Media.RTM., Memory
Stick (registered trademark), xD Picture Card, and others which are
used solely or in combination.
[0167] The above-mentioned functions in the information processing
device of the invention may be performed by using any
computer-readable program described in a legacy programming
language, such as assembly language, C, C++, C#, Java (registered
trademark), or an object-oriented programming language, etc. And
the computer-readable program may be distributed with any
computer-readable recording medium on which the program is
recorded, such as ROM, EEPROM, EPROM, flash memory, flexible disk,
CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD, SD card, and MO.
[0168] The present invention is not limited to the above-described
embodiments, and variations and modifications may be made without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0169] The present application is based on and claims the benefit
of priority of Japanese patent application No. 2007-066760, filed
on Mar. 15, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated by
reference in their entirety.
* * * * *